PCOS Renamed to PMOS After Experts Cite Broader Hormonal and Metabolic Effects

Children’s Hospital Colorado’s PCOS Clinic Director Melanie Cree, MD, PhD, is part of a team of experts leading an international effort to rename polycystic ovary syndrome to better reflect its full-body impact. The condition has been renamed polyendocrine metabolic ovarian syndrome, or PMOS, following research published in The Lancet highlighting its effects across multiple systems, including metabolism, reproductive health and mental health. 

Why the name change is important

PMOS, previously polycystic ovary syndrome or PCOS, affects an estimated 170 million women worldwide, but has been historically misunderstood. Rather than a condition limited to the ovaries, research shows it is a complex, whole-body disorder that affects hormones, metabolism, mental health and more — contributing to everything from irregular periods and infertility to diabetes, heart disease and anxiety.

“For many teens, PMOS can be frustrating and isolating because their symptoms don’t always seem to ‘fit’ the name of the condition,” said Dr. Cree, who is also a professor of pediatric endocrinology at the University of Colorado Anschutz School of Medicine. “By recognizing it as a whole-body disorder, we’re validating their experiences and helping them understand that what they’re going through is real and deserves comprehensive care.”

What this means for the future

As PMOS is adopted, updates to clinical guidelines, medical education and disease classification systems will help ensure the new terminology is used consistently worldwide. The change is also expected to reduce missed or delayed diagnoses caused by a name that previously centered on the ovaries, overlooking the condition’s broader impact. Researchers say the shift could also help reduce stigma, moving the conversation beyond infertility and toward whole-body wellness. 

Dedication to holistic care for patients with PMOS

Dr. Cree has dedicated her career to improving the lives of those living with PMOS. For the last 14 years, she’s led the PCOS Clinic at Children’s Hospital Colorado, where she and her colleagues are already providing the complete care described in the new name – including collaboration with nutritionists, gynecologists, dermatologists and more.  

In addition, she has pioneered research to better understand how high insulin levels from PMOS cause disease to help prevent related conditions and support the development of new therapies. Dr. Cree is one of only two U.S. pediatric endocrinologists involved in the international renaming effort. 

“Living with PMOS is already hard enough,” said. Dr. Cree. “This name change is about more than words – it's about creating a future where young people are understood sooner.” 

Learn more about Dr. Cree’s ongoing research, and the PCOS Clinic at Children’s Colorado.